sprout

¹sprout

verb \ˈsprau̇t\

Definition of SPROUT

intransitive verb

1

: to grow, spring up, or come forth as or as if a sprout

2

: to send out new growth

transitive verb

: to send forth or up : cause to develop : grow

Examples of SPROUT

1. seeds sprouting in the spring
2. Potatoes will sprout in the bag if kept in a warm place.
3. The garden is sprouting weeds.
4. The tree is already sprouting leaves.
5. He sprouted a beard since the last time I saw him.
6. She dreamed that her boss had sprouted horns.
7. Hair sprouted on his face.

Origin of SPROUT

Middle English spruten, from Old English -sprūtan; akin to Old High German spriozan to sprout, Lithuanian sprausti to squeeze, thrust

First Known Use: 13th century

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem

Rhymes with SPROUT

bout, clout, doubt, drought, flout, glout, gout, grout, knout, kraut, lout, out, pout, rout, route, scout, shout, snout, spout, stout, tout, trout

²sprout

noun

Definition of SPROUT

1

a : shoot 1a; especially : a young shoot (as from a seed or root)

b plural (1) chiefly British : brussels sprout 2 (2) : edible sprouts especially from recently germinated seeds (as of alfalfa or mung beans)

2

: something resembling a sprout: as

a : a young person

b : scion 2

Examples of SPROUT

1. <he earned the admiration of the neighborhood sprouts when he showed them how to make a slingshot>
2. <the raspberry bushes began sending out sprouts in early spring>

First Known Use of SPROUT

13th century

Related to SPROUT

Synonyms

bairn [chiefly Scottish], bambino, bud, chap [Southern & Midland], chick, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie (also kiddy), kiddo, moppet, sprat, child, squirt, whelp, youngling, youngster, youth

Antonyms

adult, grown-up

Related Words

adolescent, minor; kindergartner (also kindergartener), preschooler, rug rat [slang], schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl, schoolkid; babe, baby, bantling, infant, neonate, nestling, newborn, toddler, tot, tyke (also tike), weanling; brat, devil, hellion, imp, jackanapes, mischief, monkey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, urchin, whippersnapper; cherub; preteen, preteen-ager, subteen, teen, teenager, teener, teenybopper, tween; lad, nipper, shaver, stripling, tad; bobby-soxer, hoyden, tomboy

Near Antonyms

middle-ager; ancient, elder, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem